Imperative: Volume 1, A Tale of Pride and Prejudice (7 page)

“Well, that ends my involvement.”  Samuel spoke and faced his cousin.  “Forgive me, William.  But I will not marry her nor raise Wickham’s child.”

“You
will
marry her!”  The judge growled and missed Darcy and Richard exchanging looks.  “You will marry and when the bastard is born we will send it to some couple to raise, pay them off to take it, something.  Its fate is inconsequential.  We will put out word that the baby was born early and died, and that will be the end of it.  With luck it will die on its own.  You will marry immediately.”

“Father.  No.”  Samuel drew himself up.  Clearly it was taking a great deal of strength to stand up to his formidable parent.  “I like my cousin, but I do not want to marry her.  She is far too young, and while I entertained the idea of saving her reputation from ruin, I . . . I want my choice of wife to be my own.”

“You will do as you are told!”

“Uncle.”  Darcy jumped in.  “I appreciate this effort to protect the Darcy name with the desire to keep the secret between as few people as possible, and not needing to disguise the truth to some potential suitor one day, but I agree with Samuel.  Georgiana is far too young to marry, regardless of her ruin and foolish behaviour.  I will not demand it of her.  Thank you for even considering it, but I prefer to see you remain my cousin, not my brother.”

“Thank you.”  Samuel said quietly.

“You both are fools!”  The judge cried.  “What will you do with your unmarried sister when she is great with child?  And what do you intend to do with her bastard?”

“I will raise it as my child.”  Darcy said softly.  “I will make it my heir if it is a boy.”

“You impregnated your sister?” 

“No!”  Darcy was horrified.

“Then what?”  Harding demanded.  “How did she become with child?  How does this save her?   How does it save her reputation?  If I can ask the questions so will everyone else who you meet.”

“I will marry.  My wife and I will, at the appropriate time, announce her pregnancy and from that point we will remain at Pemberley, seeing nobody until the child is born.”

Harding’s face became a thundercloud of fury.  His glare was as frightening as if Zeus himself had descended from the heavens, lightning bolt in hand.  Leaning down he gripped the arms of Darcy’s chair and growled.  “YOU will marry?  YOU will pollute Pemberley with a bastard heir?  My father, my ancestors will be walking the grounds, rising from their graves in fury!  How DARE you presume this!”

Not in the least intimidated, Darcy’s fury was the equal of his uncle’s and he pushed him off from the chair.  “THIS child is OUR BLOOD!  I will not abandon it!”

“I thought that your father despised disguise of any sort, you clearly are not the same.”

“I hate disguise, but I have been embroiled in it since Georgiana’s disappearance.  If I can save this child
and
my sister by marrying, so be it.  I will not ask my cousin to do what I can. I will not ask him to marry a cousin when I refuse to do the same with Anne or Cathy.”  He looked to Samuel who nodded gratefully.  “This is my father’s grandchild.  He would have done the same.”

“No, he would have disowned her.”

“Uncle, your anger is understandable, I am sorry for it.  Your support and advice is appreciated, and I hope that I continue to receive it.  But
I
am the Master of Pemberley, and my decision has been made.”

Harding studied his nephew in silence for several pregnant moments then straightened and meeting his identical blue eyes, nodded.  “Indeed, you are the Master of Pemberley, and master of your fate.”  He held out his hand and shaking Darcy’s, leaned to embrace him.  “We take care of the family.”

“OH PAPA!”  Elizabeth leaned in the doorway to the bookroom and rolled her eyes.  “Surely there is another man with Bennet blood in his veins who can be named the heir of Longbourn!” 

He smiled and set down his book.  “I am afraid that Mr. Collins is the only one, unless you were to look to his male relatives.” 

“They are undoubtedly of the same mould.”  She sighed and took a seat across from him.  “Will you join us?  He has promised to read from Fordyce.  Mary is intrigued.”

“You have convinced me to stay here.”  They smiled at each other.

“Mama follows him around, decrying the value of everything.  I believe that she has most of the silver hidden in the attic, along with the best china.”  She laughed.  “She is so offended by his presence that she has forgotten my engagement and has not mentioned it since he arrived!  That is an accomplishment!”

“A worthy one in my estimation.  I have no desire to contemplate your departure from this home.  I regret my blessing.”  His eyes dropped to his lap.  “What will I do without you, Lizzy?”

“Please do not make me feel worse than I do already.”  She said softly.

Immediately he looked up.  “You regret this decision?  Say the word, Daughter, and I will rescind my blessing.  No settlement has been signed, I will write to him immediately.”  Elizabeth watched in astonishment as her father’s hands searched with uncharacteristic speed through the piles of papers strewn across his desk.  “He left his address with me somewhere . . . here!”  He said triumphantly and found a calling card.  On the back, written in a strong hand, Elizabeth could see an address.  A little frisson ran through her.  That was the address of her future home.

“Papa, stop!”  She cried.

The smile left his lips.  “You . . . do not wish for me to break the engagement?”

“I made a promise to him.”

“You do not know him.”

“So there will be countless things to discover, it will be an adventure.”  She said determinedly.  “Charlotte tells me that it is more important to first secure a husband and then learn all his faults after the wedding.”

“Spoken like a true spinster.”

“Papa!”

“Tell me that she is not.”  He looked at her pointedly and smiled at her reluctant nod.  “Very well.  You have not changed your mind.”

“No.” Elizabeth said softly.  “But I am still overwhelmed and terrified of the decision.  I have taken my new understanding of his admiration and thought over every encounter, every moment of our acquaintance, even if it was just seeing him at church or while he was riding with Mr. Bingley or Mr. Hurst, and of course our every conversation.”

“And what have you concluded?”

She smiled.  “I realized that my eyes were always drawn to him.  I could not look away when he was present, even when I was determined not to look I found myself contemplating him; and that to my great surprise, I discovered that his eyes were always on me.  I thought he was looking for fault, now I know differently.”  She blushed and her voice grew soft again.  “I realized that I strained to catch his voice amongst the murmurs of the crowd, and . . . that my first impression, my first thought of him, was correct.”

“Oh?”  He leaned forward and folded his hands.  “And that was?”

“No, Papa.  One day perhaps we will be friends enough for me to tell him, but only him.”

“Friends.”  Mr. Bennet shook his head.  “Where did you form your notions of marriage?  Surely it was not from this house.”

Avoiding an answer, she asked.  “Are you not friends with Mama?” 

“I suppose.”  He looked to his hands and sighed.  “She is a silly thing, and Lydia is her younger reflection.  Kitty is not much better, although perhaps she has a touch of sense somewhere in the fluff of her head.  Mary is . . . I do not know what to make of Mary.  Far too earnest.  Jane is my poised and lovely peacemaker, and you . . .” He looked up to her.  “I will miss with all of my heart.  Please do not forget Longbourn when that man sweeps you away into his rich world.  Look in on us, look after your sisters, I fear that your mother is not strong enough to . . .” He stopped when he saw her concern.  “Forgive me, my dear.  You are the first of my daughters to leave the home, I suppose that I am exposing my age.”

“Papa . . .”

“Mr. Bennet!”  Mrs. Bennet flew into the room.  “Mr. Bennet, your heir is driving me to distraction, please come and join your family. Lizzy!  You can talk to anyone, come occupy this man!”  Father and daughter exchanged smiles and shrugs.

“Come, Lizzy.  Your talents are needed here a bit longer.”

Chapter 3

18 November 1811

Darcy House

London

My Dearest Elizabeth,

Darcy’s pen hesitated over the paper.  “May I call you mine?  Will I ever be
your
dearest?  Will you call me anything besides Mr. Darcy, or will I be as your father is to your mother?”  Leaning back in his chair, he played with the feather at the end of the pen and stared pensively towards the mistress’s chambers, thinking over all that Richard and his uncle had said of his decision to marry, and knew that this was not infatuation as they inferred.  “A marriage of convenience to start with yes, but . . .whatever it becomes, I know without doubt that it will still be more than I ever would have had with any woman of my circle.  Elizabeth is . . .” He sighed regretfully.  “Stop. Once she knows everything, I doubt that any endearments will ever be allowed, or anything else.”  Straightening, he selected a new page and began again. 

Dear Miss Elizabeth,

Again his pen hesitated, and he watched as ink fell onto the page and formed a mournful black puddle below her name.  “I told her of my admiration did I not?  She blushed with pleasure when she heard it, did she not?  She accepted my kiss, she rested in my arms, she told me that she wished I would stay . . .  Perhaps, one day, with time . . .” His chin lifted and once again he balled up the sheet and tossed it in the fire.  Taking in a deep breath through his nose, he let it out and nodded, and then purposefully, he dipped his pen in the ink and began to write firmly.  “Let us begin.”

Dearest Elizabeth
,

“COME
ON
!”  Lydia said impatiently and looked back to her sisters.  “They should be back by now!”

“Who?”  Jane asked and gasped when Lydia grabbed her hand and pulled her forward.

“The officers!”  Her eyes were bright and she giggled, abandoning Jane’s hand and looping her arm with Kitty’s.  “Denny said they would return from London yesterday!”

“What were you doing speaking with Mr. Denny, Lydia?”  Elizabeth asked and looked at Jane.  “When did you get the opportunity?”

“Oh Lizzy, there is nothing wrong with speaking to the members of the Militia, they are visitors in our neighbourhood!  Mama said we are to pay them particular attention.”  Lydia spoke proudly, “We met them last week, when you and Jane were away at Netherfield.”

“Yes, Mama was with us, she said she once admired a man in a red coat!  She wants to invite them to visit at home.”  Kitty and Lydia giggled.

Elizabeth sighed.  “Well that explains how that introduction occurred.”

“No harm is done in speaking to the officers, Lizzy.  Not with Mama along.”  Jane said softly. 

“I just wonder who approached whom.”  Elizabeth watched them skipping ahead.  “And what information was exchanged.”

Mr. Collins cleared his throat.  “I am pleased to see that the eldest of my cousins display manners befitting ladies.  My younger cousins’ frivolity is perhaps pleasing to the eye, but their youth and unsuitability to yet take on the role of a wife are quite obvious.  I pray that they will mature as you, Cousin Elizabeth and you, Cousin Jane, have and will, of course, allow the natural delicacy of womanhood to settle over them and leave their childishness behind.”

The sisters exchanged looks, and Elizabeth bowed her head towards him.  “Yes, one can only hope that with age comes reason.”

“Ah, yes!”  He smiled widely.  “You see exactly what I mean!”

“However I do agree that they are not quite ready for marriage, I am sure that their admiration of the soldiers is simply two girls enjoying the distraction of new people in town.”

“Or the awakening of their womanly desires.”  Mr. Collins mused as he watched the two girls laughing ahead of them.

“Mr. Collins!”  Elizabeth cried.

“Oh, oh, forgive me Cousin!  I did not mean desires of a woman for a . . .!”  He blushed crimson and spoke very quickly.  “No, no, I meant, desires for a husband . . . I mean, a home, children!  Is that not what all women desire?” 

“Of course, Mr. Collins.”  Jane jumped in before Elizabeth, who did not believe a word of his explanation, spoke.  “We all hope for a home one day with a good man.  Do we not, Lizzy?”

“Of course.”  She looked at him with distaste.

“Ah, yes!  A good man!  One who can provide a good home!  And income!  And has the ability to promise much, much more!”  He grinned and bobbed between them, and looking wistfully at Jane, turned to Elizabeth and placed her hand on his arm.  “Tell me, dear Cousin, what of that could you possibly reject?”

“Nothing . . .” She said slowly and while trying to remove her hand, tried not to cough as the scent of his cologne failed to overcome the odour of his breath and body. 

“Ah, the air in Hertfordshire is lovely, is it not?”  He beamed and smiled as she turned her head and took a deep breath.  “I am glad to know that this will be my home county one day.”  Seeing the girls’ reaction he added hurriedly, “Of course I do not wish your father ill.”

“Naturally.”  Elizabeth pulled her hand away and stepped up her pace. 

“We are sure that Papa will live a very long time.”  Jane moved to join Elizabeth and linked her arm with hers.  They looked at each other. 

“Oh yes, yes, I am sure that he will, as well.”  Mr. Collins hurried to catch up to them.  “But . . . it is true that I am to inherit, and I will require a wife by my side . . .”

“I wish you great luck in finding her, sir.”  Elizabeth nodded and walked faster.  Ahead of them a man on a horse appeared and slowed as he approached the group. 

“Miss Elizabeth!”  He reined in and began digging in a bag slung over his shoulders.  “Finding you here saves me a trip to Longbourn.  Ah!”  He smiled triumphantly.  “The only letter for your house today; and it is for you.  Or do you prefer that I take it there?”